Adjustable vehicle mirror

ABSTRACT

A rear vision mirror assembly for support from one side portion of a vehicle. The assembly includes a main upstanding mirror section of greater height than width and supported from a suitable support at two vertically spaced points for oscillation about an upstanding axis. The assembly further includes at least one upstanding secondary mirror section supported in vertically spaced relation relative to the main section by a ball and socket structure disposed between the main section and the secondary section whereby the secondary section may be universally adjusted relative to the main section.

United States Patent Hamby ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE MIRROR Inventor: Robert L.Hamby, Dodge City, Kans.

Assignee: Richard A. Wolfe, Dodge City, Kans. a

part interest Filed: May 1 l, 1900 Appl. No.: 36,011

US. Cl... ..3S0/304, 248/481 Int. Cl. L ..G02b 5/08 Field 0! Search..350/302307; 248/48 1-484 Relerenees Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,424,424 1/1969 Kelley ...350/299 8/1953 Lenta ....350/304 l-lamby..350/ 304 Feb. 22, 1972 3,142,469 7/1964 Clemmer ..350/307 3,048,0848/1962 lannuzzi ..350/304 Primary Examiner-David Schonberg AssistantExaminer-Michael J. Tokar AttorneyClarence A. OBrien and Harvey B.Jacobson ABSTRACT A rear vision mirror assembly for support from oneside portion of a vehicle. The assembly includes a main upstandingmirror section of greater height than width and supported from asuitable support at two vertically spaced points for oscillation aboutan upstanding axis. The assembly further includes at least oneupstanding secondary mirror section supported in vertically spacedrelation relative to the main section by a ball and socket structuredisposed between the main section and the secondary section whereby thesecondary section may be universally adjusted relative to' the mainsection.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUrzszz m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 Robert L HambyINVENTOR.

BY eon W 3M PAIENTfnrzaez I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 Robert L. Hamby l.\'VIiNTOK.

BY 9mm ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE MIRROR The mirror of the instant invention isdesigned primarily for use on wide-load vehicles although it may also beutilized on other vehicles. The mirror further comprises an improvementover the vehicle mirror disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,350,dated Nov. 25, l969.

The mirror of the instant invention includes at least two relativelyuniversally supported mirror sections and one of the sections isdesigned to be supported from a support structure for oscillation abouta vertical axis. This mirror section is vertically elongated in orderthat the driver of the associated vehicle may view not only the roadwaydirectly behind his vehicle but also the rear upper portion of hisvehicle as well as the ground alongside substantially the full length ofhis vehicle from a point extending rearwardly from a location spacedslightly rearwardly of the point of mounting of the mirror assembly uponhis vehicle. Accordingly, due to the vertical elongation of this sectionof the mirror assembly and its mounting for oscillation about anupstanding axis the driver of the associated vehicle may adjust thismain mirror section as desired according to the mounting location of themirror relative to the driver's position of the vehicle and be affordeda directly rearward view alongside his vehicle through a vertical arc ofappreciable extent.

The mirror assembly further includes at least one secondary mirrorclement disposed in vertically spaced relation relative to the mainmirror section or element and supported therefrom by means of a ball andsocket connection. The secondary mirror section may thus be universallyadjusted relative to the main section as desired by the driver of thevehicle while he is moving the vehicle in reverse, if the driver desiresto obtain a different line of vision than that which is afforded by themain mirror section.

The mirror assembly of the instant invention is designed so as to be ofsimple construction and thus durable as well as inexpensive and easy torepair.

The main object of this invention is to provide a compound mirrorassembly for mounting on the side of a large vehicle and includingrelatively movable mirror elements specifically designed to provide aview to the rear of the vehicle and alongside the latter as desired bythe driver of the vehicle,

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a rear vision mirror assembly includinga simple mounting structure for attachment to the side of the associatedvehicle.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a mirror assemblyincluding a main mirror element or section for support for oscillationabout a vertical axis and which is vertically elongated whereby thedriver of the vehicle may adjust the main mirror section or element andbe afforded a rearward view through an appreciable vertical arc wherebynot only the roadway alongside the associated vehicle but also the upperrear portions of the corresponding side of the vehicle may be viewed.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a mirrorassembly also including at least one secondary mirror clementuniversally supported from the main mirror element or section therebyenabling the driver of the associated vehicle to obtain a variedrearward view then he is maneuvering his vehicle in reverse.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a rear vision mirror assembly in accordance with thepreceding objects which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to providea device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relativelytrouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of a road vehicle with themirror assembly of the instant invention mounted on the left-handdrivers door of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the assemblageillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG.1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG.1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates the cab portion of the tractor element of atractor-semitrailer truck. The cab portion 10 includes a front left-handdrivers door 12 and the mirror assembly of the instant invention isgenerally referred to by the reference numeral 14 and illustrated asbeing supported from by door 12.

Although the mirror assembly 14 is illustrated as being mounted on thecab portion 10, it is to be noted that the mirror assembly 14 may bemounted upon various vehicles with which the mirror assembly iscompatible.

The mirror assembly 14 includes a mounting structure referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 16 and including three adjustablelength support arms 18, 20 and 22 including inner base ends providedwith apertured mounting flanges 24 secured to the outer surface of thedoor 12 by means of suitable fasteners 26. The arms 18, 20 and 22 eachinclude relatively telescopic sections secured in adjusted relativeextended positions by means of setscrews 28. The support arms 20 and 22are generally horizontally disposed and convergent toward their outerends remote from the base ends thereof. The free convergent ends of thesupport arms 22 are secured to opposite side portions of an uppervertical extension 30 of the free end of the support arm 18, the latterbeing upwardly inclined toward its outer free end extension 30.

The extension 30 extends upward beyond the outer or free ends of thearms 20 and 22 and includes an upper rearwardly directed portion 32 aswell as a lower rearwardly directed portion 34.

The free ends of the portions 32 and 34 define socket members 36 and 38,respectively, and each of the socket members 36 and 38 captivelyuniversally supports the ball element portion 40 of a correspondinganchor 42.

The mirror assembly 14 includes a main mirror section referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 44 and a pair of upper and lowersecondary mirror sections referred to in general by the referencenumerals 46 and 48.

The mirror section 44 includes a housing defined by an extruded channelmember 50 including end walls 52 and 54 attached by means of fasteners55 and a mirror 56 is slidingly supported within opposite sidelongitudinal grooves 57 defined by the housing 50 and between the endwalls 52 and 54, which end walls include integral retaining flanges 59.The anchors 42 are secured to the opposite end portions of the bightportion 58 of the channel member 50 and the latter is verticallydisposed whereby the mirror 56 is vertically elongated and the mainmirror section 44 is thus supported for oscillation about a verticalaxis extending between the ball element portions 40.

The secondary mirror sections 46 and 48 are identical, except for beinginverted relative to each other, and each includes a shorter channelmember 60 including end .walls 62 and 64 attached by means of fasteners65. A pair of mirrors 66 are slidingly received in the grooves of thechannel members 60 and between the end walls 62 and 64 thereof, whichend walls also include integral retaining flanges 67, and the secondarymirrors 46 and 48 are'disposed above and below the main mirror section44 in spaced relation relative to the upper and lower end walls 52 and54 thereof.

The upper and lower end walls 52 and 54 have socket defining members 70secured thereto and a pair of anchors 72 including ball-definingportions 74 are secured through the end walls 64 with the ball elementportions 74 thereof captively retained in and universally supported fromthe socket members 70. Accordingly, the secondary mirror sections 46 and48 are universally supported from the upper and lower ends of the mainmirror section 44 in vertically spaced relation relative thereto wherebyeach of the mirror sections 46 and 48 may be individually universallyadjusted in all directions relative to the main mirror section 44.

After the mirror assembly 14 has been attached to the door 12, the mainmirror section 44 is oscillated about its vertical support axis untilthe correct positioning of the main mirror section 44 has been obtained.When the main mirror section 44 is properly adjusted, the driver of thetruck will be afforded a directly rearward view along the side of hisvehicle and he will be able to not only view straight rearwardly alonghis vehicle but also rearwardly and downwardly and rearwardly andupwardly along his vehicle. Then, the secondary mirror sections 46 and48 may be adjusted as desired. As an example, the upper mirror sectionmay be tilted forwardly so as to provide a view of the forward upperedge portion of the trailer portion of the vehicle and the mirrorsection 46 may be tilted forwardly at its lower portion to provide arearward view which is sharply downwardly inclined. Of course, otheradjustments of the secondary mirrors 46 and 48 may be obtained, whendesired, in order to afford the driver of the vehicle dif-' ferentrearward views when the driver is maneuvering his vehicle in reverse.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A rear vision mirror assembly for support from one side portion of avehicle, said assembly including a mount for securement to said sideportion and a main upstanding mirror section of greater height thanwidth supported from the mount for oscillation about an upstanding axis,said assembly further including at least one upstanding secondary mirrorsection supported from and disposed in vertically spaced relationrelative to the main section by a ball and socket structure connectedbetween said main section and said secondary mirror section and withsaid secondary mirror section independent of any other means of supportfor rotational and universal adjustment ofsaid secondary mirror relativeto said main mirror section, said one upstanding secondary mirrorsection being disposed above the main section and said mirror assemblyincluding a second secondary mirror section spaced vertically below themain mirror section and universally supported therefrom by a ball andsocket structure, said main and secondary sections including upstandingchannel members defining opposite side inwardly opening and open endedconfronting grooves and panellike mirror elements each including a pairof generally parallel opposite side marginal portions slidingly receivedin the corresponding grooves, said channel members each including a pairof end walls removably secured thereto closing the corresponding ends ofsaid grooves, said ball and socket structures being anchored to theopposing end walls of adjacent channel members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mount includes verticallyspaced portions, said main mirror section being supported from saidvertically space portions for oscillation about an axis extendingbetween said portions.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mount includes a first pairof generally horizontal support arms convergent toward one pair ofcorresponding ends thereof and a second inclined support arm disposed ina vertical plane generally bisecting the included angle formed by saidhorizontal support arms, the upper end of said inclined support armincluding an upward extension to opposite sides of whose lower portionthe convergent ends of said horizontal support arms are secured, thedivergent ends of said support arms including mounting flanges forsupport of said mount from a support member, said main mirror sectionbeing attached to vertically spaced points along said extension abovesaid horizontal arms for oscillation about an upstanding axis extendingbetween said points.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end walls include integralright angled flanges overlying the outer surfaces of the correspondingend marginal edge portions of said mirror elements.

1. A rear vision mirror assembly for support from one side portion of avehicle, said assembly including a mount for securement to said sideportion and a main upstanding mirror section of greater height thanwidth supported from the mount for oscillation about an upstanding axis,said assembly further including at least one upstanding secondary mirrorsection supported from and disposed in vertically spaced relationrelative to the main section by a ball and socket structure connectedbetween said main section and said secondary mirror section and withsaid secondary mirror section independent of any other means of supportfor Rotational and universal adjustment of said secondary mirrorrelative to said main mirror section, said one upstanding secondarymirror section being disposed above the main section and said mirrorassembly including a second secondary mirror section spaced verticallybelow the main mirror section and universally supported therefrom by aball and socket structure, said main and secondary sections includingupstanding channel members defining opposite side inwardly opening andopen ended confronting grooves and panellike mirror elements eachincluding a pair of generally parallel opposite side marginal portionsslidingly received in the corresponding grooves, said channel memberseach including a pair of end walls removably secured thereto closing thecorresponding ends of said grooves, said ball and socket structuresbeing anchored to the opposing end walls of adjacent channel members. 2.The combination of claim 1 wherein said mount includes vertically spacedportions, said main mirror section being supported from said verticallyspace portions for oscillation about an axis extending between saidportions.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mount includes afirst pair of generally horizontal support arms convergent toward onepair of corresponding ends thereof and a second inclined support armdisposed in a vertical plane generally bisecting the included angleformed by said horizontal support arms, the upper end of said inclinedsupport arm including an upward extension to opposite sides of whoselower portion the convergent ends of said horizontal support arms aresecured, the divergent ends of said support arms including mountingflanges for support of said mount from a support member, said mainmirror section being attached to vertically spaced points along saidextension above said horizontal arms for oscillation about an upstandingaxis extending between said points.
 4. The combination of claim 1wherein said end walls include integral right angled flanges overlyingthe outer surfaces of the corresponding end marginal edge portions ofsaid mirror elements.